System and Method to Automate Placement of RFID Repeaters
The Automatic RFID Tuner has one or more RF repeaters that can travel in the x, y and z axes through a densely packed pallet of goods. The RF repeater identifies dead spots where RF signals from an RFID transceiver do not penetrate the dense packaging. The RF repeater calculates a position that ensures the RF signal will reach all passive RFID tags in the dense packaging. The RF repeater moves to the calculated position so that the RFID transceiver's signal will read all passive RFID tags in the dense packaging.
The invention relates generally to the field of electrical communications and relates specifically to querying an information containing device for an immediate reply.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRadio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) technology comprises two elements: a transponder (hereafter “tag”), which is generally a small, paper thin computer chip with an antenna which stores data, and a transceiver which utilizes a radio signal in the approximate 800-930 Mhz UHF range to read the data from the tag. Active RFID tags contain a power source, such as a battery, and can actively transmit the tag's stored data. Passive RFID tags cannot transmit by themselves, and require a RFID transceiver to provide power via radio signals transmitted by the RFID transceiver. As passive RFID tags pass by a RFID transceiver, the transceiver powers the tag and reads the data stored on the tag.
Large retail companies, such as WAL-MART®, find passive RFID tags advantageous over optical barcodes for inventory tracking. RFID tags have two distinct advantages over traditional optical barcodes: RFID tags can store more information, and RFID tags do not require line-of-sight readings.
A problem in the implementation of passive RFID technology for inventory tracking arises from dead spots. Dead spots can be caused by dense packing of passive RFID tags where inventory materials shield the tags and interrupt signal transmission. For example, in a pallet containing sixty cases of canned goods, where each case has a passive RFID tag, the metal cans in cases around the periphery of the pallet shield the RFID transceiver's signal. Even if the RFID transceiver successfully reads fifty of the sixty RFID tags located on the pallet, the RFID technology failed as a tracking and inventory method because the RFID technology gathered incomplete and inaccurate information.
Dead spots can be avoided by placing passive RFID tags to avoid shielding problems. In addition, RFID repeaters, placed within the packed pallet, can ensure that the RFID transceiver's signal reads all of the passive RFID tags on the pallet. But in order to be sure that all of the passive RFID tags on the pallet are read, the placement of the passive RFID tags and RFID repeaters, if any, must be tested.
One known method for testing the placement of RFID tags uses visual indicators, such as heat-sensitive liquid crystals (“LCDs”) that change color when exposed to certain radio frequencies. LCDs that are sensitive to the RF frequency transmitted by an RFID transceiver can act as markers, showing the reach of the RFID signal. Furthermore, an electronic radio frequency receiver or repeater can be placed in various locations within a packed pallet to verify the scanning of passive RFID tags. The electronic radio frequency receiver or repeater may provide a visual readout of signal strength or may store readings in an electronic format that can be read by a computer. Using these known methods, optimal RFID tag and repeater locations may be tested by trial and error.
A need exists for a computer implemented method to automatically determine placement of passive RFID tags or RFID repeaters in a dense packaging storage unit to ensure RFID transceivers can read all the passive RFID tags in the storage unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention meeting the need identified above is the “automatic RFID tuner” comprising a plurality of RF repeaters, each of the RF repeaters attached to a telescoping mast and connected to a computer, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of motorized carriages adapted for movement along the plurality of tracks and each of the motorized carriages further adapted for transporting one of the telescoping masts. Using the tracks, the motorized carriages, and the telescoping masts, the automatic RFID tuner's RF repeaters can travel in the x, y and z axes through a dense packaging storage unit to identify dead spots where RF signals from an RFID transceiver do not penetrate the dense packaging storage unit. The RFID tuner's computer calculates a position for each of the RF repeaters to ensure that the RF signal from the RFID transceiver will reach all passive RFID tags located on packages in the dense packaging storage unit. The automatic RFID tuner moves the RF repeater to the calculated position so that the RFID transceiver's signal will read all passive RFID tags in the dense packaging storage unit.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be understood best by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
There are numerous mechanical methods known in the art for moving RFID repeaters, such as first RF repeater 251 and second RF repeater 252, through a dense packaging pallet of goods such as product pallet 100. Ideally, these mechanical means mount to pallet 110. Motorized methods for moving RFID repeaters, such as first RF repeater 251 and second RF repeater 252 in the x, y and z axes include, but are not limited to, any combination of telescoping masts, screw, cable, chain or worm drive systems, motorized cars (on or off of a track), and robotic arms. Various pneumatic and hydraulic methods for moving RFID repeaters in the x, y and z axes are also known in the art.
Although computer 220 connects to mechanically mounted RFID repeaters 251 and 252 via cables 231 and 232, any electrical or electronic communication connection may be used, including radio signals or other wireless methods, such as BLUETOOTH.
The principles of the present invention are applicable to a variety of computer hardware and software configurations. The term “computer hardware” or “hardware,” as used herein, refers to any machine or apparatus that is capable of accepting, performing logic operations on, storing, or displaying data, and includes without limitation processors and memory; the term “computer software” or “software,” refers to any set of instructions operable to cause computer hardware to perform an operation. A “computer,” as that term is used herein, includes without limitation any useful combination of hardware and software, and a “computer program” or “program” includes without limitation any software operable to cause computer hardware to accept, perform logic operations on, store, or display data. A computer program may, and often is, comprised of a plurality of smaller programming units, including without limitation subroutines, modules, functions, methods, and procedures. Thus, the functions of the automatic RFID tuner may be carried out by instructions from a computer program residing in a single computer or memory connected to the computer or may be distributed among a plurality of computers and computer programs. The program to implement the automatic RFID tuner is described best, though, as a single computer program that configures and enables one or more general-purpose computers to implement the novel aspects of the RFID tuner. For illustrative purposes, the computer program will be referred to as the “automatic RFID tuner procedure” (see
Additionally, the automatic RFID tuner is described below with reference to an exemplary network of hardware devices, as depicted in
Automatic RFID tuning procedure 500 typically is stored in a memory, represented schematically as memory 420 in
As shown in
One embodiment of automatic RFID tuning procedure 500 identifies all passive RFID tags such as RFID tags 131-139 during the RF signal measurement and mapping step. This embodiment allows for a verification after the tuning procedure to ensure all passive RFID tags are read by RFID transceiver 150.
One embodiment of automatic RFID tuning procedure 500 and automatic RFID Tuner 200 does not use a centralized computer 220 to manage the tuning procedure, but rather each RF repeater, such as first RF repeater 251 and second RF repeater 252 follows its own pre-programmed search routine and communicates directly with other RF repeaters during the search and voting procedure.
A preferred form of the invention has been shown in the drawings and described above, but variations in the preferred form will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is for illustration purposes only, and the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific form shown and described. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.
Claims
1. A process for automatically determining the placement of RFID repeaters for reading passive RFID tags in a dense packaging, the process comprising:
- moving an RF repeater along a track through the dense packaging;
- measuring RF signals from a RFID transceiver with the RF repeater;
- identifying a dead spot in the dense packaging;
- determining a location to place the RF repeater to ensure the RF signal reaches all passive RFID tags in the dead spot;
- moving the RF repeater to the location; and
- reading all passive RFID tags located in the dead spot.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein a telescoping mast moves the RF repeater in a vertical direction.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein a motorized carriage on a track move the RF repeater in a horizontal direction.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein a robotic arm moves the RF repeater within the dense packaging.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein a computer manages the process.
6. The process of claim 1 further comprising:
- identifying all passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging while measuring the RF signal from the RFID transceiver.
7. The process of claim 6 further comprising:
- verifying that all identified passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging are read by the RFID transceiver.
8. An apparatus for automatically determining the placement of an RFID repeater to read passive RFID tags located in a dead spot in a dense packaging, the apparatus comprising:
- a RFID transponder;
- a plurality of passive RFID tags positioned in the dense packaging and near the RFID transponder;
- a means for moving the RFID repeater along the x, y and z axis within the dense packaging;
- a computer with a processor and a memory in communication with the RFID repeater and the motor means; and
- an automatic RFID tuning program in the memory operable to direct the motor means to move the RFID repeater through a predefined search routine within the dense packaging, record the RF signal strength measured by the RFID repeater at positions within the dense packaging, calculate a position for the RFID repeater to ensure the RF signal reaches all passive RFID tags in the dense packaging, and direct the motor means to move the RF repeater to the calculated optimal position.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the motor means for moving the RFID repeater comprises a telescoping mast.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the motor means for moving the RFID repeater comprises motorized carriages on a track.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the motor means for moving the RFID repeater comprises a robotic arm.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the computer is integral with the RFID repeater.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the automatic RFID tuning program in the memory is further operable to identify all passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging while measuring the RF signal from the RFID transceiver.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the automatic RFID tuning program in the memory is further operable to verify that all identified passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging are read by the RFID transceiver.
15. A computer program product for automatically determining the optimal placement of a RFID repeater for reading passive RFID tags in a dense packaging, the computer program product comprising a computer-useable medium having a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
- direct a mechanical means to move the RFID repeater through a predefined search routine along the x, y and z axis within the dense packaging;
- record a RF signal strength measured by the RFID repeater at positions within the dense packaging;
- calculate a position for the RFID repeater to ensure the RF signal reaches all passive RFID tags in the packaging; and
- direct the mechanical means to move the RF repeater to the calculated optimal position.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer is integral with the RFID repeater.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to identify all passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging while measuring the RF signal from the RFID transceiver.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to verify that all identified passive RFID tags located throughout the dense packaging are read by the RFID transceiver.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2008
Patent Grant number: 7561050
Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal (Fort Worth, TX), Gregory J. Boss (American Fork, UT), Rick A. Hamilton (Charlottesville, VA), Alexandre Polozoff (Bloomington, IL), Timothy M. Walers (Hiram, GA)
Application Number: 11/426,972
International Classification: G08B 13/14 (20060101);